As my Christmas sewing finally winds down, I’m turning my attention to the new year. And Elizabeth at Don’t Call Me Betsy is hosting a listy linky for 2011 quilting goals. Fun! So without further ado, here’s what’s on the agenda for me:

3. Swaps. I’ve only done one swap so far, but I would definitely like to do a few more. I would love a mini-quilt or two to decorate the blank wall behind my sewing machine—I spend a lot of time staring at that wall. It’d be nice to have something inspirational up there! So I’m hoping to join the next Doll Quilt Swap. I’m also interested in the Pillow Talk Swap and Modern Swappers. Both look like a lot of fun.

4. A quilt-along. I would like to try running my own quilt-along sometime in 2011, based on my Hope Valley quilt above. I’m thinking of starting it in February or March (although of course you will be able to join it at any time). I may modify the design a little (possibly to make it charm-square friendly) or I may do it just as it is, above. I’m undecided—if you think you might participate, feel free to weigh in!

5. Quilting for charity. In addition to my involvement in Do. Good Stitches, I’m making a quilt for the Wrapped In Hope project by Margaret’s Hope Chest. I’m also planning to make at least one quilt next year for Quilt Hope In, which benefits women and children in Haiti.

6. Holiday stuff for 2011. A tree skirt, stockings for the whole family, and a Christmas quilt. These are all things I wanted to get to this year, but didn’t. 2011 will be the year for them. No, seriously.

7. Learn to free-motion quilt. I need to get over my fear of FMQ and give it another shot. I’m not sure I’ll ever love it—quilting on my machine always feels like a wrestling match to me, trying to get that bulky quilt through such a small amount of space. That just doesn’t strike me as much fun. But it’s a skill I should have, even if I don’t use it frequently.

8. Rent the long-arm quilting machine at my LQS again. I rented a long-arm twice in 2010. My first time on the long-arm was a wonderful experience (I quilted the quilt shown above, for my 1-year-old). The second time was more stressful, because I had to load the quilt onto the frame by myself, and the machine got a little cranky with me (not my fault, I swear!). But it’s pretty awesome to take an unbasted, unsandwiched top and back into the store, and come out 3 hours later with a gorgeous quilt! So I would like to rent the long-arm again, and naturally, when I do, I plan to document the whole thing right here. : )

9. More finishes. For all the sewing I did in 2010, I only have five completed quilts to show for it. Two of those were sent out to a professional long-arm quilter. Outsourcing the quilting is convenient and quick, but it’s certainly not cheap. And there’s just something about doing a quilt entirely yourself, from start to finish, that makes the completed project that much more special. So this year, I want to finish more quilts: My goal is 12 quilts in 2011. That’s one per month, on top of my bee blocks, swap commitments, and other projects! And I want to finish more of those quilts myself. I won’t say all of them, but definitely more of them.

Um, is 2011 expected to be like 14 months long instead of the usual 12? Because if it’s not, I don’t know how I’m going to accomplish all of this. Oh well, nothing wrong with a little ambition, right? If I check off even three-quarters of the projects listed above, I’ll be a happy girl.

And with that, I’m signing off until after Christmas. With Miss E. on break from school, cookies to make, presents to wrap, and a few gift projects yet to finish, I need to take the week off from blogging and concentrate on reigning in the holiday chaos. So there will be no WIP Wednesday this week. But we will return to our regularly-scheduled programming on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

Now hop over to Elizabeth’s blog to see what everybody else is planning in the new year. Happy holidays to you all, and happy sewing in 2011!

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1. Yeah – I know what you mean on that one. I work a full time job, but my goal is to do more sewing and getting more finishes done.

2. I've never done a bee, but that's mostly because I am afraid that I won't be able to make the blocks that other people want. And it feels strange to make a quilt out of someone else's sewing. And because I work full time. Ugg…

5. Good on you! I'm considering doing a Wrapped in Hope quilt too, but I don't want to commit unless I know for sure I'll be able to actually finish it. In time.

6. Are you going to quilt them? If not, buy holiday fleece as it goes on clearance after Christmas and do that. I did that the first year my husband and I were married (last year) for Christmas. I just used a Simplicity pattern I picked up at Hancock Fabrics, and it only took me about a day to do it.

7. I probably should do that this year too…I've kind of done some (not meandering/stippling) on my last two quilts I finished – I kind of FMQed veins onto leaves, which kind of counts, right?

8. I wish I had a LQS to use a long-arm machine! Lucky!

9. We all feel that way, don't we?

I hope 2012 will be 14 months! I could use those extra few months! I hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

I think we should all start a petition to extend the year by two months. I think that would be a wonderful way to start 2011. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling overextended before the year even begins, and good for you for taking a bloggy getaway. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a festive New Year 🙂

You are way too busy for one girl..lol. I only FMQ once on awhile, and it is on something small..I love it; but I get a bit tight in the shoulders…was brought up hand quilting…it relaxes me.. and like you; the thoughts of all that fabric on a small machine…nah….the longar; never had the opportunity…but would love to sometime…

I have a list for 2011, too, but the post for it will have to wait until after the 23rd–that's when grades are due, for me, and then I'm officially On Break! So. I better quit playing hooky and get back to it! 🙂

Great list! I'm thinking that taking a long arm class and renting time may be on my list for the coming year… and I love your hope valley quilt and would be interested… but need to get a couple of my WIP QAL done from this year… my to do list for 2011 looks alot like my WIP list right now so your skipping this week will reduce duplication 🙂